Agojo wrests 4T-point edge over Ikeda

BACOLOD, Philippines  – Jayvie Agojo matched her first round output of two-under 68 worth 56 points and raced away with a four-point lead over Chihiro Ikeda, moving 18 holes away from reclaiming the Southern Ladies golf tournament crown at the Binitin course of the Bacolod Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Agojo, 24, played another steady game in the absence of the wind at the par-70 layout, hitting birdies on Nos. 3 and 6 while saving pars in two times that she went out of regulation at Nos. 14 and 18. Her 112-point aggregate under the Molave scoring system gave her a big cushion heading into the final round of the 54-hole championship she ruled in 2005.

“It’s still anybody’s game,” said Agojo, downplaying her title chances in the 48th staging of the event fast turning out to be a one-player show as the fancied bets continued to struggle under tough playing condition.

Ikeda, three points down with Sarah Ababa at the start of the round, improved from a previous one-over 73 card or 53 points with 55 points, one-under par in stroke play. But the reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion fell farther back with a 108 total in the tournament sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Kaiser International, Directories Phils. Corp (DPC) Yellow Pages, Hans Brumann Jeweler, WWWExpress, DHL Express and Business Inn, the official hotel.

Andie Unson, tipped as the player to watch after taking the low amateur honors in last week’s The Country Club Invitational, also scored 55 points from a one-under 69 but remained five points adrift at 107.

Dottie Ardina, who nipped Ikeda by one point to bag the crown last year in Iloilo, finally hit her stride with a two-under 68 worth 56 points but she still stood six points behind the steady Agojo with a 106 aggregate.

Ababa tumbled down to joint fifth at 103 with Sunshine Baraquiel, who had a 71 and 53 points, with 50 points, four-over 74, while Lovelynn Guioguio pooled a 102 after a 50-point performance in the tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

“My game is quite okay but I need to make birdie chances (to win). I can’t be sure of my (title) chances because I still have to play consistently,” said Agojo, who barely missed scoring a big comeback win in the recent China Amateur Open.

The former Pepperdine U mainstay, who swept the Phl Ladies Open, the DHL Open and the Southern Ladies in 2005, struggled in last month’s Phl ladies Open but bounced back in last week’s TCC Invitational where she finished second to Unson in the low amateur race.

Meanwhile, Arianne Salvador of Valley Golf took the Class A (10-18) crown with a 36-hole total of 93 points after closing out with 43 points for a whopping 18-point romp over Jocelyn Garcia of Alabang, who had 35 for a 75, and Mercy Bejar of Cebu, who also totaled a 75 after a 38.

Lilibeth de Villa of Tagaytay Highlands bagged the Class B title with a 71 total after a 38, nipping Maritess Mendell of Victorias, who had a 37 and a 70, by one point. Ana Luisa Mendoza, who led in the first round with 37 points, wavered with a 30 and settled for third at 67.

Aguinaldo’s Leny Cabili took the Class C diadem with a 69 after a 35, beating Sonnie Montelibano of Bacolod, who had a 67 after a 33, by two. Another local bet, Grace Bañas placed third with a 66 after a 30.

Sol Antonio of Villamor topped Class D with 59 points after a 31 for a seven-point victory over Felicisima Celones, who had a 52 after a 27, while Juanita Goto of Iloilo finished third with a 24 and for a 50-point total.

Sonnie Montelibano captured the seniors crown with 83 PAL points from a 42 and a 41, nipping Leny Cabili, who had 41 and 42, in the countback. Sol Antonio placed third with an 80 after a 39 and 41.